Record heat in midsummer: 35.4 degrees in Waghäusel-Kirrlach!

Record heat in midsummer: 35.4 degrees in Waghäusel-Kirrlach!

On Sunday, June 23, 2025, sweating was the order of the day in Baden-Württemberg. With an impressive temperature of 35.4 degrees Celsius, the hottest day of the year was measured in Waghäusel-Kirrlach in the Karlsruhe district. This means that the record from 2019, when 38.9 degrees was reached in Mannheim, remains unbroken. Even though June this year did not boast any extreme records, the trend towards higher temperatures is clear.

In a nationwide comparison, Baden-Württemberg was not leading with its maximum temperature. The highest temperature of the day was recorded in Saarbrücken-Burbach at 36.2 degrees. Some places in Rhineland-Palatinate also had a lot to offer: Bad Dürkheim reached 35.8 degrees and Bad Kreuznach reached 35.7 degrees. The hottest June day in Germany so far remains June 30, 2019 with 39.6 degrees in Bernburg (Saale), Saxony-Anhalt. The all-time heat record for Germany remains at 41.2 degrees, measured on July 25, 2019 in Tönisvorst and Duisburg-Baerl in North Rhine-Westphalia. It turns out that summers are getting hotter, which many weather experts associate with climate change.

Heat and climate change

Climate change has played a significant role in the increase in hot days in recent years. According to reports from the German Weather Service, over four billion people worldwide experienced 30 additional hot days in 2024 compared to a time without climate change. In Germany, a total of 50 hot days have been recorded since the Heat Day Action Day in 2024, which is 24 days more than without climate change.

Old, sick and pregnant people are particularly at risk. But even healthy people cannot be spared from the extreme heat. If temperatures continue to be high, the risk of heat stroke or heat exhaustion increases. Symptoms such as heavy sweating, headaches and nausea can appear quickly. First aid can often make the difference in such a case: half a liter of water with a teaspoon of salt can work wonders, while in the case of heat stroke, which manifests itself as hot, dry skin and confusion, an emergency doctor should be called immediately.

Preventive measures and urban solutions

To counteract the effects of heat, cities are required to take preventative measures. Cool rooms in public facilities, drinking fountains in squares and measures to green and densify urban development are increasingly on the agenda. An example of innovative solutions is water mist technology, which is already being used in Straubing.

A heat protection plan presented by the Federal Ministry of Health in 2024 aims to minimize the health risks associated with extreme temperatures. So it remains important to be well informed and prepared to maintain wellness in our hot summer sun.